what are the disadvantages and advantages of beading?

Question

beading on fabrics

Answer 1

Some people think it looks pretty.
It is rather fragile so you get broken threads and beads all over.
It is tedious to do and you have to have good eyesight to make patterns.

Answer 2

It looks really cool and is a lot cheaper than having it done, but it's really boring and a total pain in the bum. Of course, it is easier than working with the beads alone, and you can get designs worked up significantly faster than if you were working the beads without fabric.

Answer 3

Carefully chosen beads are less likely to fade with age than embroidery.

Modern nylon thread will hold up even longer than traditional silk for beadwork (silk always out-lasted cotton). In my opinion, nylon works better for beadwork on fabric than it does for embroidery on fabric.

A beaded edge will hold up longer than an embroidered edge. Each is intended to protect the edge and is intended to be repaired and replaced as needed, so it won't be necessary to repair or replace the base fabric sleeve or hem.

Beadwork is not prey to vermin (as is wool).

Beadwork gives a nice weight, in controlled fashion, to air-y fabrics.

Disadvantage: extensive beadwork can be notably heavy, the larger the beads, the heavier the beadwork (1 square foot with Crow Beads is *much* heavier than 1 square foot with #14 seed beads). Lighter-weight plastic beads took tacky much sooner than glass beads would show any wear at all.